Reception of management frames for multiple basic services sets (BSSs)

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for analyzing management frames for multiple basic service sets (BSSs). In one aspect, a wireless node may obtain a first management frame from a wireless local area network (WLAN) apparatus, the WLAN apparatus operating multiple virtual access points (VAPs) respectively corresponding to multiple BSSs. The wireless node may determine whether the first management frame includes a BSS profile of a BSS associated with the wireless node based, at least in part, on an arrangement of a plurality of BSS profiles within one or more management frames. The wireless node may determine to further process the first management frame based, at least in part, on a determination that the first management frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS associated with the wireless node.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Patent Application claims priority to Indian Provisional PatentApplication No. 201841025518 filed on Jul. 9, 2018, and assigned to theassignee hereof. The disclosure of the prior Application is consideredpart of and is incorporated by reference in this Patent Application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of network communication, and moreparticularly to wireless local area networks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

An access point (AP) of a wireless local area network (WLAN) can enablewireless network access for a client device (also referred to as astation, or STA). The AP may provide a wireless coverage area used byone or more STAs to access the WLAN. A Basic Services Set (BSS) may bedefined as one AP, the wireless channel configuration, and the set ofSTAs that are wirelessly associated with the AP. The wireless channelconfiguration may utilize a portion of a frequency band (such as a 2.4GHz frequency band, a 5 GHz frequency band, etc.). Within each frequencyband, there may be different channels which an AP may utilize as part ofthe wireless channel configuration. Furthermore, the AP may utilize morethan one antenna. For example, an AP may utilizemultiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication in which multipleantennas transmit wireless signals.

Multiple APs may be used within the same geographical area to supportlarger quantities of STAs or to separate traffic among groups of STAs.In the past, a single WLAN apparatus may have hosted only one BSS(associated with one AP). The BSS may be associated with a BSSidentifier (BSSID). Recently, a single WLAN apparatus may be configuredto host multiple BSSs (each BSS associated with a virtual AP) from thesame WLAN apparatus. Each BSS may be associated with a different BSSID.

SUMMARY

The systems, methods, and devices of this disclosure each have severalinnovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for thedesirable attributes disclosed herein.

One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosurecan be implemented by a wireless node. The wireless node may include aninterface configured to obtain a first management frame from a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) apparatus. The WLAN apparatus may operatemultiple virtual access points (VAPs) respectively corresponding tomultiple basic service sets (BSSs). The wireless node may include afirst processor configured to determine whether the first managementframe includes a BSS profile of a BSS associated with the wireless nodebased, at least in part, an arrangement of a plurality of BSS profileswithin one or more management frames transmitted by the WLAN apparatus.The BSS may be one of the multiple BSSs, and the BSS profile may be oneof the plurality of BSS profiles. The first processor of the wirelessnode may determine to further process the first management frame based,at least in part, on a determination that the first management frameincludes the BSS profile of the BSS associated with the wireless node.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine to discard thefirst management frame without further processing the first managementframe based, at least in part, on a determination that the firstmanagement frame does not include the BSS profile of the BSS associatedwith the wireless node.

In some implementations, in response to the determination that the firstmanagement frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS associated with thewireless node, the wireless node may determine whether the BSS profileof the BSS has changed compared to a previous instance of the BSSprofile that was included in a previously received management frame. Thewireless node may determine to further process the first managementframe in response to a determination that the BSS profile has changedcompared to the previous instance of the BSS profile.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine to discard thefirst management frame without further processing the first managementframe in response to a determination that the BSS profile has notchanged compared to the previous instance of the BSS profile.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine the firstmanagement frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS based, at least inpart, on a repeating pattern of the plurality of BSS profiles includedacross a repeating sequence of management frames transmitted by the WLANapparatus.

In some implementations, the wireless node may monitor management framestransmitted by the WLAN apparatus, and may determine a repeating patternof the plurality of BSS profiles included across a repeating sequence ofthe management frames transmitted by the WLAN apparatus based on themonitoring of the management frames. The wireless node may determine thefirst management frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS based, atleast in part, on the repeating pattern of the plurality of BSS profilesincluded across the repeating sequence of the management frames.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine the firstmanagement frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS based, at least inpart, on a determination that the first management frame is a DeliveryTraffic Indication Message (DTIM) management frame.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine a DTIM intervalassociated with the BSS profile of the BSS associated with the wirelessnode, and may determine a repeating pattern of transmission ofmanagement frames that include the BSS profile of the BSS based, atleast in part, on the DTIM interval. The wireless node may determine thefirst management frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS based, atleast in part, on a determination that the first management frame is oneof the management frames in the repeating pattern of transmission ofmanagement frames that include the BSS profile of the BSS.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine to wake up ahost processor to further process the first management frame.

In some implementations, in response to the determination that the firstmanagement frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS associated with thewireless node, the wireless node may determine whether the BSS profileis split between a first Multiple BSSID element of the first managementframe and a second Multiple BSSID element of the first management frame.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine the firstMultiple BSSID element or the second Multiple BSSID element includes anindicator element that indicates the BSS profile is split between thefirst Multiple BSSID element and the second Multiple BSSID element.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine the firstmanagement frame includes at least a subset of the plurality of BSSprofiles based, at least in part, on the arrangement of the plurality ofBSS profiles within one or more management frames transmitted by theWLAN apparatus, where the subset of the plurality of BSS profilesincludes the BSS profile.

In some implementations, in response to the determination that the firstmanagement frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS associated with thewireless node, the wireless node may identify a first indicator elementin a first portion of the BSS profile included in a first Multiple BSSIDelement of the first management frame, where the first indicator elementindicates a start of the BSS profile. The wireless node may determine asecond portion of the BSS profile included in a second Multiple BSSIDelement of the first management frame does not include an indicatorelement. The wireless node may identify a second indicator element in anext BSS profile included in the second Multiple BSSID element, wherethe second indicator element indicates a start of the next BSS profile.The wireless node may determine the BSS profile is split between thefirst Multiple BSSID element and the second Multiple BSSID elementbased, at least in part, on an identification of the first indicatorelement, an identification of the second indicator element, and adetermination that the second portion of the BSS profile included in thesecond Multiple BSSID element does not include an indicator element.

In some implementations, the wireless node may be configured as astation. The wireless node may include a receiver configured to receivethe first management frame.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in thisdisclosure can be implemented by a wireless node. The wireless node mayinclude a processor configured to operate multiple virtual access points(VAPs) associated with corresponding multiple basis service sets (BSSs),where the multiple VAPs include at least a first VAP for a first BSS anda plurality of other VAPs for a plurality of other BSSs. The processorof the wireless node may determine an arrangement of a plurality of BSSprofiles associated with the plurality of other BSSs within one or moremanagement frames, and may generate the one or more management framesbased, at least in part, on the arrangement of the plurality of BSSprofiles. The wireless node may include an interface configured tooutput the one or more management frames for transmission to one or morewireless local area network (WLAN) apparatuses associated with the firstBSS and at least one of the plurality of other BSSs.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine a repeatingpattern of the plurality of BSS profiles to be included across arepeating sequence of management frames, and generate the repeatingsequence of management frames for transmission via the interface.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine DTIM intervalsassociated with the plurality of BSS profiles, and determine a repeatingpattern of transmission of management frames based, at least in part, onthe DTIM intervals, where each management frame of the repeating patternof transmission of management frames includes one or more of theplurality of BSS profiles.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine a same DTIMinterval for each of the plurality of BSS profiles generate a DTIMmanagement frame for transmission that includes the plurality of BSSprofiles.

In some implementations, the wireless node may determine whether a firstBSS profile of the plurality of BSS profiles has changed compared to aprevious instance of the first BSS profile, where the first BSS profileis associated with a second BSS. The wireless node may determine toinclude the first BSS profile in a next management frame associated withthe second BSS in response to determining the first profile has changed.

In some implementations, the wireless node may split a first BSS profileof the plurality of BSS profiles between a first Multiple BSSID elementof a first management frame and a second Multiple BSSID element of thefirst management frame.

In some implementations, a first portion of the first BSS profile isincluded in the first Multiple BSSID element of the first managementframe and a second portion of the first BSS profile is included in thesecond Multiple BSSID element of the first management frame.

In some implementations, the first portion of the first BSS profileincluded in the first Multiple BSSID element includes a first indicatorelement that indicates a start of the first BSS profile, the secondportion of the first BSS profile included in the second Multiple BSSIDelement does not include an indicator element, and the second BSSprofile included in the second Multiple BSSID element includes a secondindicator element that indicates a start of the second BSS profile.

In some implementations, the first indicator element may be a firstcapabilities element associated with the first BSS profile, and thesecond indicator element may be a second capabilities element associatedwith the second BSS profile.

In some implementations, the wireless node may be configured as anaccess point. The wireless node may include a transmitter configured totransmit the one or more management frames.

Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter describedin this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and thedescription below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will becomeapparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Note thatthe relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn toscale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a system diagram of an example WLAN apparatus operatingMultiple BSSs.

FIG. 2A depicts example of a repeating sequence of management framesthat includes a repeating pattern of BSS profiles.

FIG. 2B depicts another example of a repeating sequence of managementframes that includes a repeating pattern of BSS profiles.

FIG. 3 depicts example management frames that include a split BSSprofile across Multiple BSSID elements.

FIG. 4 depicts an example split BSS profile that is split across twoMultiple BSSID elements of a management frame.

FIG. 5 depicts an example flowchart of a wireless node analyzing areceived management frame.

FIG. 6 depicts an example flowchart of a wireless node preparing one ormore management frames for transmission.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an example electronic device forimplementing aspects of this disclosure.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is directed to certain implementations for thepurposes of describing the innovative aspects of this disclosure.However, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that the teachings herein can be applied in a multitude ofdifferent ways. The examples in this disclosure are based on wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) communication according to the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 wireless standards.However, the described implementations may be implemented in any device,system or network that is capable of transmitting and receiving RFsignals according to any communication standard, such as any of the IEEE802.11 standards, the Bluetooth® standard, code division multiple access(CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM),GSM/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment(EDGE), Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA),Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO), 1×EV-DO, EV-DO Rev A, EV-DO Rev B,High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), High Speed Downlink Packet Access(HSDPA), High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Evolved High SpeedPacket Access (HSPA+), Long Term Evolution (LTE), AMPS, or other knownsignals that are used to communicate within a wireless, cellular orinternet of things (IoT) network, such as a system utilizing 3G, 4G, 5G,6G, or further implementations thereof, technology.

Stations (STAs) in a WLAN can establish a wireless association (alsoreferred to as a wireless link, wireless connection, or the like) withan access point (AP) to access the broadband network via the gatewaydevice. The AP, the wireless channel configuration, and the set of STAsthat are wirelessly associated with the AP are referred to as a BasicServices Set (BSS). Typically, an AP would transmit management frames(such as Beacon Frames or Probe Response Frames) to provide informationabout the BSS to any STAs in the vicinity of the AP. A wireless node ora wireless apparatus may refer to a WLAN device (whether an AP or anon-AP STA), or may refer to a wireless chipset of a WLAN device thatmanages and implements wireless communications.

A WLAN apparatus (such as an AP or a wireless node) may operate multiplevirtual APs (VAPs) and each VAP may be associated with a different BSS.Operating a VAP for a BSS also may be referred to as hosting the BSS.Other terms may be used to represent the existence of a BSS (andcorresponding VAP) at the WLAN apparatus, including having an activeBSS, instantiating the BSS, implementing the BSS, or the like. Each BSSis associated with a different BSS identifier (BSSID). Multiple BSScapability may refer to a capability of a WLAN apparatus to advertiseinformation for multiple BSSIDs using a single management frame (such asa Beacon Frame or Probe Response Frame) instead of using multiple Beaconor Probe Response Frames, each corresponding to a single BSSID. This hasthe advantage of reducing network overhead, while enabling multiple BSSsfor traffic separation. For example, a first VAP (for a first BSS) maybe designated as a primary source for management frames that advertisethe information for the multiple BSSs, including one or more other BSSsin operation (being hosted) at the WLAN apparatus. Together, themultiple BSSs that are included in the single management frame signalingmay be referred to as a Multiple BSSID set.

In a Multiple BSSID set, the BSSID of one VAP is referred to as the“transmitted BSSID” (or TxBSSID), and the BSSIDs of the rest of the VAPsare referred to as “nontransmitted BSSIDs” (or NonTxBSSIDs). The BSSIDof the VAP that transmits the management frame for all of the VAPs ofthe multiple BSSID set is referred to as the TxBSSID. The BSSIDs of theVAPs that do not transmit the management frame are referred to as theNonTxBSSIDs. The VAPs corresponding to the NonTxBSSIDs (which may alsobe referred to as “NonTx VAPs”) advertise information in the managementframe transmitted by the VAP corresponding to the TxBSSID (which mayalso be referred to as the “Tx VAP”). In some implementations, themanagement frame may include an indication, such as a “MaxBSSIDindicator,” to signal a maximum quantity of contiguously numbered BSSIDsthat could belong to a Multiple BSSID set. The MaxBSSID indicator maycarry a value n that indicates that the Multiple BSSID set may includeup to 2{circumflex over ( )}n BSSIDs. For example, a MaxBSSID indicatorhaving a value of four (4) may signal that a Multiple BSSID set mayinclude up to sixteen (16) BSSIDs. The Multiple BSSID set may includeless than sixteen BSSIDs.

A management frame transmitted by the Tx VAP may include a MultipleBSSID element that includes profile information (which may also bereferred to as “BSS profiles” or “NonTxBSSID profiles”) regarding theNonTxBSSIDs in the Multiple BSSID set. A STA may receive the managementframe to learn about the TxBSSID and any of the other BSSs (NonTxBSSIDs)identified in the management frame. The management frame may include apartial list of the NonTxBSSID profiles in the Multiple BSSID set or acomplete list of the NonTxBSSID profiles in the Multiple BSSID set. Insome scenarios, the management frame may not be large enough (in termsof permitted transmission size) to include a complete list of theNonTxBSSID profiles. The Tx VAP may signal one or more partial lists.For example, the first VAP may break the complete list of NonTxBSSIDsinto different partial lists that are sent in consecutive managementframes. In some implementations, the first VAP may include an indicationof whether the management frame includes a complete list or a partiallist. The first VAP may also inform the STA how many BSSIDs are actuallyimplemented in the Multiple BSSID set. By knowing a quantity (or count)of BSSIDs in the Multiple BSSID set, the STA can unambiguously determinewhether the STA has learned about all the BSSIDs in the Multiple BSSIDset even if the STA has received one or more partial lists.

STAs may implement various forms of optimization techniques to savepower when scanning for and analyzing management frames (such as BeaconFrames). When the WLAN apparatus (such as an AP) transmits managementframes that advertise information for a single BSS (instead of MultipleBSSs) or the WLAN apparatus hosts a single BSS, the BSS configurationtypically stays the same from one management frame to a subsequentmanagement frame. As a result, the content of management framestypically remains unchanged for most management frames. A STA mayimplement one or more power save techniques when receiving a managementframe associated with a BSS to determine whether the content of themanagement frame has changed. If the content of the management frame hasnot changed, the lower layers of the STA (such as hardware or firmware)may not wake up the host processor to parse the content of themanagement frame, and instead may discard or ignore the rest of themanagement frame. If the content of the management frame has changed,the lower layers of the STA (such as hardware or firmware) may wake upthe host processor to parse the content of the management frame todetermine how the BSS configuration has changed. Some example power savetechniques that may be implemented by the STA include one or more of aDelivery Traffic Indication Message (DTIM) technique, an Early BeaconTermination (EBT) technique, and a selective processing technique. TheDTIM technique may involve waking up the host processor only for DTIMmanagement frames (such as DTIM Beacon Frames). The EBT technique mayinvolve the STA skipping the further processing of a management framebased on the results of some initial checks (which may also be referredto as initial processing or preliminary processing) of one or morecharacteristics of the management frame. For example, the STA may checkwhether the length of the management frame is the same as the previouslyreceived management frame. Since having the same length as thepreviously received management frame may be assumed to mean that thecontent of the management frame is the same as the previously receivedmanagement frame, the STA may skip further processing of the managementframe (and therefore ignore or discard the management frame). In someimplementations, the length of the management frame may be determinedbased on the duration field of the management frame. The selectiveprocessing technique may selectively process or analyze certain elementsof a management frame. For example, the STA may include a decode enginethat monitors if the content of certain elements of interest (which mayalso be referred to as essential elements) of the management frame havechanged. If the content of the elements has not changed, then the STAmay skip further processing of the management frame (and thereforeignore or discard the management frame).

The Multiple BSSID feature has resulted in several ambiguities which mayaffect the power save algorithms that are implemented for single BSSscenarios such that these power save techniques cannot be applied toMultiple BSS scenarios. For example, in the case of an AP thatimplements the Multiple BSSID feature, each management frame in arepeating sequence of two or more management frames may carry adifferent set of NonTxBSSID profiles. As a result, the content of everysuccessive management frame may change, even though the BSSconfiguration with respect to one or more NonTxBSSID profiles has notchanged. Thus, in some implementations, different power save algorithmsmay be utilized by APs and STAs that implement the multiple BSSIDfeature.

In accordance with this disclosure, a WLAN apparatus (such as an AP orany type of wireless node) that supports the Multiple BSSID feature mayimplement frame generation techniques when preparing and transmittingmanagement frames (such as Beacon Frames) having a Multiple BSSID setthat may result in power savings at the receiving STAs. In someimplementations, the WLAN apparatus may prepare and transmit DTIMmanagement frames (such as DTIM Beacon Frames) that include the same setof NonTxBSSID profiles. The set of NonTxBSSID profiles may have the sameDTIM interval in order to generate DTIM management frames that includethe same set of NonTxBSSID profiles. In some implementations, the WLANapparatus may prepare and transmit a repeating sequence of managementframes, where each management frame of the repeating sequence ofmanagement frames includes different NonTxBSSID profiles. For example, afirst management frame in the repeating sequence of three managementframes may include BSS profiles for a first NonTxBSSID, a secondNonTxBSSID, and a third NonTxBSSID. A second management frame in therepeating sequence of three management frames may include BSS profilesfor a fourth NonTxBSSID, a fifth NonTxBSSID, and a sixth NonTxBSSID. Athird management frame in the repeating sequence of three managementframes may include BSS profiles for a seventh NonTxBSSID, an eighthNonTxBSSID, and a ninth NonTxBSSID. Thus, the repeating sequence ofmanagement frames, each including different NonTxBSSID profiles, may becharacterized as a repeating pattern of NonTxBSSID profiles across themultiple management frames. In some implementations, the WLAN apparatusmay implement a hybrid approach of the two frame generation techniquesdescribed above. For example, the WLAN apparatus may ensure that theDTIM of a particular NonTxBSSID profile is a multiple of the repeatingpattern of management frames. The WLAN apparatus may ensure that aparticular NonTxBSSID profile is present in the management framecorresponding to the DTIM for that NonTxBSSID profile.

In accordance with this disclosure, a STA (or any time of wireless node)that supports the Multiple BSSID feature may implement power savetechniques when receiving management frames (such as Beacon Frames)having a Multiple BSSID set. In some implementations, the STA maydisable EBT, and the firmware or hardware of the STA (such as aprocessing unit or controller that executes the firmware, which maygenerally be referred to as a processor) may parse the management frameto determine whether or not to wake up the host processor to performfurther processing on the management frame. Performing initial checks(or initial processing) at the lower layers may consume less powercompared to running the host processor. In some implementations, the STAmay perform initial checks on the management frame to determine one ormore frame characteristics that may indicate whether the managementframe includes the NonTxBSSID profile corresponding to the BSSassociated with the STA. If the management frame includes the NonTxBSSIDprofile associated with the STA, the STA may then determine whether theNonTxBSSID profile has changed compared to the previously receivedinstance of the NonTxBSSID profile. In some implementations, when the APincludes the NonTxBSSID profile associated with the STA in DTIMmanagement frames, the STA may ignore or discard non-DTIM managementframes to save power, and may perform EBT on DTIM management frames todetermine whether or not to wake up the host processor to performadditional processing on the management frame. For example, the STA mayperform initial checks to determine whether a management frame is a DTIMmanagement frame. When the STA receives a DTIM management frame, the STAmay perform additional checks, such as comparison operations thatdetermines whether the NonTxBSSID profile associated with the STA haschanged compared to the previously received instance of the NonTxBSSIDprofile. For example, the STA may compare the length of the DTIMmanagement frame to the length of the previously received DTIMmanagement frame. The STA may also perform a hash comparison operationthat compares the hash results associated with the DTIM management frameto the hash results of the previously received DTIM management frame. Insome implementations, the STA may read counter values, sequence numbers,or other types of indicators that the WLAN apparatus includes in amanagement frame for each of the NonTxBSSIDs to indicate whether any ofthe profile information associated with any of the NonTxBSSID profileshas changed. For example, when the WLAN apparatus prepares a managementframe for transmission, it may determine that profile information of afirst NonTxBSSID profile has changed, and determine that profileinformation of a second NonTxBSSID profile has not changed. Therefore,in this example, the WLAN apparatus would change the counter value,sequence number, or other indicator for the first NonTxBSSID profile toindicate the profile information has changed, and the WLAN apparatuswould not change the counter value, sequence number, or other indicatorfor the first NonTxBSSID profile to indicate the profile information hasnot changed. With the above schemes, the STA associated with aparticular VAP can check the respective management frame to see if thereis a change to the configuration of its associated BSS.

In accordance with this disclosure, the WLAN apparatus (or any type ofwireless node) may generate and transmit a management frame having asplit NonTxBSSID profile (which may also be referred to as a straddledNonTxBSSID profile) across two or more Multiple BSSID elements of themanagement frame. For example, the WLAN apparatus may include one ormore complete NonTxBSSID profiles for a corresponding one or moreNonTxBSSIDs, and a partial NonTxBSSID profile (which may be referred toas a first portion of the profile) for another NonTxBSSID, in a firstMultiple BSSID element of the management frame. The WLAN apparatus mayalso include a partial NonTxBSSID profile (which may be referred to as asecond portion of the profile, or the remaining portion of the profilethat was not included in the first Multiple BSSID element) in a secondMultiple BSSID element of the management frame. Thus, the managementframe includes a NonTxBSSID profile that is split into a first portionand a second portion across the first and second Multiple BSSIDelements. In some implementations, the WLAN apparatus may include anindication in one or more of the Multiple BSSID elements of themanagement frame that indicates the management frame includes a splitNonTxBSSID profile.

Particular implementations of the subject matter described in thisdisclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the followingpotential advantages. A WLAN apparatus that supports the Multiple BSSIDfeature can implement frame generation techniques for preparing andtransmitting management frames that aid receiving STAs to implementpower saving techniques for receiving, analyzing, and processing themanagement frames. The power saving techniques implemented by the STAmay perform one or more initial checks on a received management frame tosave power. Based on the initial checks, the STA may determine whetherto ignore (or discard) the management frame, which saves power by notfully processing the management frame, or whether to wake up the hostprocessor to further process the management frame. The WLAN apparatusmay also implement split NonTxBSSID profiles to better utilize elementsize limitations. For example, instead of leaving some unused bytes (ornot utilizing the maximum number of bytes) in a Multiple BSSID elementand adding a profile in the next element, the WLAN apparatus may use thebytes for a first portion of the profile and add the second portion ofthe profile in the next Multiple BSSID element.

FIG. 1 depicts a system diagram of an example WLAN apparatus operatingMultiple BSSs. The system diagram 100 includes a WLAN apparatus 150which is communicatively coupled to a broadband network 160. The WLANapparatus 150 may be communicatively coupled (or co-located) with agateway device (not shown). A gateway device, such as a modem or router,may provide access to the broadband network 160. For example, thegateway device can couple to the broadband network through a cable, afiber optic, a powerline, or DSL network connection. The WLAN apparatus150 may be an AP (or any type of wireless node) that hosts multipleVAPs, such as a first VAP 151, a second VAP 152, a third VAP 153, and afourth VAP 154. The first VAP 151 is providing a first coverage area141. Similarly, the second VAP 152 provides a second coverage area 142,the third VAP 153 provides a third coverage area 143, and the fourth VAP154 provides a fourth coverage area 144. For illustration purposes, thefirst coverage area 141, second coverage area 142, third coverage area143, and fourth coverage area 144 are shown as different size ovals inthe diagram. However, the sizes of the coverage areas may be similar toeach other and the shapes of the coverage areas may vary as a result ofenvironmental obstructions or interference. The WLAN apparatus 150 mayhave one or more antennas 155. In some implementations, the VAPs 151,152, 153, and 154 may share the same one or more antennas 155.

In FIG. 1, each of the VAPs 151, 152, 153, and 154 are associated withdifferent BSSIDs and are part of a Multiple BSSID set. Each BSS can havedifferent wireless associations with client stations (STAs). A STA canestablish a wireless association (also referred to as a wireless link,wireless connection, or the like) with a VAP to access the broadbandnetwork via the WLAN apparatus 150. In FIG. 1, a first STA 110 has afirst wireless association 112 with a first BSSID (corresponding to thefirst VAP 151). A second STA 120 has a second wireless association 122with a second BSSID (corresponding to the second VAP 152). A third STA130 has a third wireless association 132 with a third BSSID(corresponding to the third VAP 153).

In some scenarios, a fourth STA 140 may enter the vicinity of the WLANapparatus 150 and may attempt to establish a wireless association withone of the VAPs 151, 152, 153, or 154. The fourth STA 140 may observe amanagement frame (such as a Beacon Frame or Probe Response Frame) todetermine the BSSID(s) available from the WLAN apparatus 150. Forexample, the first VAP 151 may periodically broadcast a Beacon Frame. Insome implementations, the fourth STA 140 may transmit a Probe RequestFrame to the WLAN apparatus 150 to request a Probe Response Frame. Themanagement frame (whether it is a Beacon Frame, a Probe Response Frame,or some other management frame) received from the WLAN apparatus 150 mayindicate the TxBSSID of the first VAP 151. Furthermore, the managementframe may indicate some or all of the NonTxBSSIDs of the other BSSs(corresponding to VAPs 152, 153, and 154) being hosted by the WLANapparatus 150. The fourth STA 140 may determine whether to establish awireless association with the VAP 151, the VAP 152, the VAP 153, or theVAP 154 based on one or more management frames received from the WLANapparatus 150.

In some implementations, the first VAP 151 may periodically broadcast amanagement frame, such as a Beacon Frame. The management frame mayindicate the TxBSSID of the first VAP 151. Furthermore, the managementframe may indicate some or all of the NonTxBSSIDs of the other BSSs(corresponding to VAPs 152, 153, and 154) being hosted by the WLANapparatus 150. In some implementations, the WLAN apparatus 150 may havea Multiple BSS Capability module 170 and a management frame generationmodule 172 to perform some of the operations described herein. Forexample, the Multiple BSS Capability module 170 may coordinate with theone or more of the VAPs 152, 153, and 154 and may store the BSSIDs forthe Multiple BSSID Set. The management frame generation module 172 mayprepare (or generate) the management frames for the Multiple BSSID Setfor transmission. In some implementations, the management framegeneration module 172 may implement frame generation techniques toprepare management frames that include some or all of the NonTxBSSIDprofiles of the BSSs corresponding to the VAPs 152, 153, and 154, aswill be further described below. For example, the management framegeneration module 172 may generate a first management frame having aMultiple BSSID element that includes a first NonTxBSSID profile of asecond BSS corresponding to the second VAP 152 and a second NonTxBSSIDprofile of a third BSS corresponding to the third VAP 153. The WLANapparatus 150 may also generate a second management frame having aMultiple BSSID element that includes a third NonTxBSSID profiles of afourth BSS corresponding to the fourth VAP 154. In some implementations,the Multiple BSS Capability module 170 and the management framegeneration module 172 may be part of a wireless chipset of the WLANapparatus 150. In some implementations, the wireless chipset also mayhost, at least in part, the multiple VAPs, such as the first VAP 151,the second VAP 152, the third VAP 153, and the fourth VAP 154. Awireless chipset also may be generally referred to as a wireless node, awireless apparatus, or a communication unit (or module), and may performsome or all of the operations described in this disclosure forimplementing and managing wireless communications for multiple BSSs.

In some implementations, each of the STAs 110, 120, 130, and 140 mayinclude a management frame analysis module and a processing module. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, the second STA 120 may include a managementframe analysis module 125 and a processing module 128. The STAs 110,130, 140 may also each include a management frame analysis module and aprocessing module; however, these modules are not shown FIG. 1 forsimplicity. The management frame analysis module 125 may implement powersave techniques for analyzing received management frames, as will befurther described below. For example, the management frame analysismodule 125 may analyze a received management frame to determine whetherto ignore (or discard) the received management frame and therefore savepower, or whether to further process the received management frame usingthe processing module 128. In some implementations, a management frameanalysis module and a processing module may be part of a wirelesschipset of each STA. A wireless chipset also may be generally referredto as a wireless node, a wireless apparatus, or a communication unit (ormodule), and may perform some or all of the operations described in thisdisclosure for processing wireless communications that implement aMultiple BSSID feature. In some implementations, a processing module mayinclude a host processor. In some implementations, a management frameanalysis module may include hardware and firmware, such as a processor(which may be separate from the host processor) that may executefirmware to analyze a received management frame to determine whether toignore (or discard) the received management frame or further process thereceived management frame.

In some implementations, the management frame generation module 172 ofthe WLAN apparatus 150 may prepare DTIM management frames (such as DTIMBeacon Frames) that include NonTxBSSID profiles for all of theNonTxBSSIDs supported by the WLAN apparatus 150. The set of NonTxBSSIDprofiles may have the same DTIM interval in order to generate DTIMmanagement frames that include the same set of NonTxBSSID profiles. Insome implementations, the management frame analysis module 125 of theSTA 120 may implement a power save technique that performs one or moreinitial checks on the received management frame to identify a DTIMmanagement frame and determine whether the NonTxBSSID profile associatedwith the STA 120 has changed. The management frame analysis module 125may determine to check for DTIM management frames after monitoringmanagement frames generated by the WLAN apparatus 150 and determiningthe DTIM management frames generated the WLAN apparatus 150 includeNonTxBSSID profiles for all of the supported NonTxBSSIDs. Therefore,whether or not the management frame is a DTIM management frame is aframe characteristic the management frame analysis module 125 can checkto determine whether the management frame will include the NonTxBSSIDprofile associated with the STA 120. The management frame analysismodule 125 may ignore or discard non-DTIM management frames to savepower, and may perform EBT on the DTIM management frame to determinewhether or not to wake up the processing module 128 (which may includethe host processor) to perform additional processing on the managementframe. When performing EBT, the management frame analysis module 125 mayperform a length comparison operation for the DTIM management frame.When the management frame analysis module 125 determines the length ofthe DTIM management frame is different than the length of the previouslyreceived DTIM management frame, then the management frame analysismodule 125 may perform an additional comparison operation, such as ahash function of information in the Multiple BSSID element. For example,the management frame analysis module 125 may perform a hash function ofcertain profile information of the BSS profile associated with the STA120 and compare the results of the hash function to the expected hashfunction results (such as the hash function results of a previouslyreceived DTIM management frame). If the hash function results are amatch, then the DTIM management frame is ignored or discarded becausethe BSS profile likely has not changed. If the hash function results donot match, then the management frame analysis module 125 may request theprocessing module 128 to perform further processing on the DTIMmanagement frame. For example, the host processor may be further processthe DTIM management frame to determine the change in the BSSconfiguration.

In some implementations, the management frame generation module 172 ofthe WLAN apparatus 150 may prepare a repeating sequence of managementframes, where each management frame of the repeating sequence ofmanagement frames includes different NonTxBSSID profiles. For example,as shown in FIG. 2A, a first management frame 201 in the repeatingsequence of two management frames may include a Multiple BSSID element220 having a BSS profile 221 for a first NonTxBSSID associated with theVAP 152 (VAP2), and a BSS profile 222 for a second NonTxBSSID associatedwith the VAP 153 (VAP3). The first management frame 201 may also includea header 210 and additional elements/fields 230. The additionalelements/fields 230 may include elements, fields, and other managementinformation from the VAP 151 (VAP1) that can be inherited by the VAPs152, 153, and 154. A second management frame 202 in the repeatingsequence of two management frames may include a Multiple BSSID element240 having a BSS profile 241 for a third NonTxBSSID associated with theVAP 154 (VAP4). The second management frame 202 may also include aheader 211 and additional elements/fields 231. Thus, the repeatingsequence of management frames, each including different BSS profiles(which may also be referred to as NonTxBSSID profiles), may becharacterized as a repeating pattern of BSS profiles across the multiplemanagement frames. FIG. 2A illustrates a Repeating Pattern A, whichincludes the BSS profiles 221 and 222 in the first management frame 201and the BSS profile 241 in the second management frame 202.

In some implementations, the repeating pattern may be different than theexample pattern shown in FIG. 2A for the system of FIG. 1. For example,FIG. 2B illustrates a Repeating Pattern B, which includes a repeatingsequence of three management frames. The first management frame 251 inthe repeating sequence of three management frames may include one ormore Multiple BSSID elements 260 having a BSS profile 261 for a firstNonTxBSSID associated with a first VAP, a BSS profile 262 for a secondNonTxBSSID associated with a second VAP, and a BSS profile 263 for athird NonTxBSSID associated with a third VAP. The first management frame251 may also include a header 255 and additional elements/fields 290.The second management frame 252 in the repeating sequence of threemanagement frames may include one or more Multiple BSSID elements 270having a BSS profile 271 for a fourth NonTxBSSID associated with afourth VAP, a BSS profile 272 for a fifth NonTxBSSID associated with afifth VAP, and a BSS profile 273 for a sixth NonTxBSSID associated witha sixth VAP. The second management frame 252 may also include a header256 and additional elements/fields 291. The third management frame 253in the repeating sequence of three management frames may include one ormore Multiple BSSID elements 280 having a BSS profile 281 for a seventhNonTxBSSID associated with a seventh VAP, a BSS profile 282 for aneighth NonTxBSSID associated with an eighth VAP, and a BSS profile 283for a ninth NonTxBSSID associated with a ninth VAP. The third managementframe 253 may also include a header 257 and additional elements/fields292. In FIG. 2B, the repeating sequence of management frames, eachincluding different BSS profiles (which may also be referred to asNonTxBSSID profiles), may also be characterized as a repeating patternof BSS profiles across the multiple management frames.

In some implementations, the management frame analysis module 125 of theSTA 120 may monitor the management frames that are transmitted by theWLAN apparatus 150 to identify a repeating sequence of management frameshaving a repeating pattern of BSS profiles across the multiplemanagement frames. The repeating pattern of BSS profiles may be referredto as a frame characteristic that can be detected by the managementframe analysis module 125 to determine which management frame has theBSS profile associated with the STA 120. The management frame analysismodule 125 may determine the first management frame 201 in the repeatingsequence of management frames includes the BSS profile 221 of theNonTxBSSID 152 that is associated with the STA 120. Therefore, themanagement frame analysis module 125 may determine to monitor andanalyze every first management frame in the sequence going forward. Insome implementations, the management frame analysis module 125 mayidentify the repeating pattern and also which management frame has theBSS profile 221 associated with the STA 120 based on the Multiple BSSIDIndex element that is included in each BSS profile. Each BSS profile hasa different value for the Multiple BSSID Index element, and thus theMultiple BSSID Index element may be considered a frame characteristicthat can be used to identify a management frame that includes aparticular BSS profile. In some implementations, after determining whichmanagement frame in the sequence includes the BSS profile associatedwith the STA 120, an expected length of the first management frame inthe sequence may be stored for comparison to the length of subsequentinstances of the first management frame. Also, a hash function may beperformed based on information in the Multiple BSSID element of thefirst management frame in the sequence (such as profile information ofthe BSS profile associated with the STA 120) in order to determine andstore an expected result of the hash function for comparison tosubsequent instances of the first management frame. When the managementframe analysis module 125 determines the length of the subsequent firstmanagement frame in the sequence (according to the repeating pattern) isthe same as the expected length, then the management frame is ignored ordiscarded because the BSS profile likely has not changed. When themanagement frame analysis module 125 determines the length of thesubsequent first management frame in the sequence (according to therepeating pattern) is different than the expected length, then themanagement frame analysis module 125 may perform an additionalcomparison operation, such as a hash function of information in theMultiple BSSID element. For example, the management frame analysismodule 125 may perform a hash function of certain profile information ofthe BSS profile associated with the STA 120 and compare the hashfunction results to the expected hash function results. In someimplementations, the profile information of the BSS profile that will beinputted into the hash function may be referred to as essential elementsof the BSS profile that the STA wants to monitor. For example, a channelchange announcement element may be considered an essential element.Other elements of the BSS profile that are not considered essential tothe STA may be placed in a hash ignore list, such as a country element.If the hash function results are a match, then the management frame isignored or discarded because the BSS profile likely has not changed. Ifthe hash function results do not match, then the management frameanalysis module 125 may request the processing module 128 to performfurther processing on the management frame. For example, the hostprocessor may be further process the management frame to determine thechange in the BSS configuration.

In some implementations, the management frame analysis module 125 of theSTA 120 may disable EBT, and instead may parse the management frame todetermine whether or not to wake up the processing module 128 to performfurther processing on the management frame. The management frameanalysis module 125 may perform initial checks on the management frameto determine one or more frame characteristics that may indicate whetherthe management frame includes the BSS profile corresponding to the BSSassociated with the STA 120. If the management frame includes the BSSprofile associated with the STA 120, the management frame analysismodule 125 may then determine whether the BSS profile has changedcompared to the previously received instance of the BSS profile. Forexample, similarly as described above, the management frame analysismodule 125 may perform a hash comparison operation that compares thehash results associated with the management frame to the hash results ofa previously received management frame.

In some implementations, the management frame generation module 172 ofthe WLAN apparatus 150 may include a BSS profile of a particularNonTxBSSID in a management frame that is repeated according to the DTIMinterval associated with the NonTxBSSID. For example, the BSS profile ofthe NonTxBSSID associated with the VAP 152 may include a DTIM intervalof 5. With a DTIM interval of 5, the management frame generation module172 may include the BSS profile associated with the VAP 152 in themanagement frame that is transmitted every 5^(th) beacon interval inorder to be consistent with the DTIM interval. Thus, the repeatingpattern for transmitting the BSS profile associated with the VAP 152 isevery 5^(th) management frame in order to line up with the DTIM intervalthat has a value of 5 (that is, every 5^(th) beacon interval). In someimplementations, the management frame analysis module 125 may determinethe DTIM interval of the BSS profile associated with the VAP 152 todetermine the repeating pattern of management frames that will includethe BSS profile associated with the VAP 152. For example, the managementframe analysis module 125 may determine the BSS profile is associatedwith a DTIM interval having a value of 5, which may indicate that themanagement frame analysis module 125 should monitor every 5^(th)management frame. Thus, the DTIM interval may also be considered a framecharacteristic that can be checked by the management frame analysismodule 125 to determine which management frames include a particular BSSprofile. The management frame analysis module 125 may ignore or discardmanagement frames that are not part of the repeating pattern indicatedby the DTIM interval. For example, the STAs may wake up to receive andprocess management frames that are part of the repeating patternindicated by the DTIM interval, and the STAs may not wake up formanagement frames that are not part of the repeating pattern indicatedby the DTIM interval. The management frame analysis module 125 mayperform EBT (such as length comparison operations, hash comparisonoperations, etc., as described above) on the management frames that arepart of the repeating pattern indicated by the DTIM interval.

In some implementations, when the management frame analysis module 125performs a hash function of the profile information of a particular BSSprofile associated with a NonTxBSSID, the management frame analysismodule 125 may also perform a hash function of certain essentialelements that the STA 120 is monitoring in the TxBSSID. For example, themanagement analysis module 125 may perform a hash function of certainelements that the NonTxBSSID associated with the STA 120 is inheritingfrom the TxBSSID. The result of the hash function may indicate to theSTA 120 whether the inherited elements that are being monitored by theSTA 120 have changed from the previous instance of the management frame.In some implementations, when the STA 120 has detected a repeatingpattern of management frames, or a DTIM interval, that indicates the BSSprofile associated with the STA 120 will be located in, for example, thethird beacon interval, the STA 120 may monitor the third managementframe in a sequence of management frames. In some implementations, inaddition to monitoring the BSS profile associated with the STA 120 thatis included in the third management frame in the sequence, themanagement analysis module 125 may also monitor certain essentialelements, such as inherited elements, in most or all of the managementframes in the sequence (such as in the first, second, and thirdmanagement frames in the sequence) by performing a hash function, asdescribed above, on certain essential elements that are inherited by theSTA 120. In some implementations, the STA 120 may perform a first hashfunction comparison operation for the profile information of the BSSprofile associated with the STA 120, and a separate hash functioncomparison operation for the essential elements, such as the elementsthat are inherited from the TxBSSID by the NonTxBSSID associated withthe STA 120. In some implementations, the STA 120 may perform a singlehash function comparison operation for both the profile information andthe essential elements. For example, the STA 120 may perform an initialhash function of the profile information, and then the STA 120 may addas an addition input to the hash function the information from theessential elements (such as the inherited elements), and then comparethe results as described above.

In some implementations, when the management frame generation module 172of the WLAN apparatus 150 prepares a management frame for transmission,it may monitor which BSS profiles have changes compared to the previousinstance of the BSS profiles in a previously transmitted managementframe. For example, the frame generation module 172 may determine thatprofile information of a first BSS profile has changed, and determinethat profile information of a second BSS profile has not changed. Theframe generation module 172 may include a change indicator in each ofthe BSS profiles of the management frame that may indicate to areceiving STA (such as STA 120) whether the BSS profiles have changedfrom the previous instance of the BSS profiles. The change indicatorsmay be counters, sequence numbers, or other types of indicators. Whenthe frame generation module 172 determines a BSS profile has changed,the frame generation module 172 may update the change indicatorassociated with that particular BSS profile to indicate theconfiguration of the BSS profile has changed. For example, if the changeindicator is a counter or a sequence number, the counter or sequencenumber may be incremented to indicate the BSS profile has changed.

When the frame generation module 172 determines a BSS profile has notchanged, the frame generation module 172 may maintain the changeindicator in its current state to indicate the configuration of the BSSprofile has not changed. For example, if the change indicator is acounter or a sequence number, value of the counter or sequence numbermay be maintained (not updated) to indicate the BSS profile has notchanged. In some implementations, when using the change indicators, theSTA that receives the management frame can quickly determine whether anyof the information in any of the BSS profiles has changed by reading thechange indicators. For example, the management frame analysis module 125of the STA 120 may read the change indicators to determine whether theconfiguration of the BSS profile associated with the STA 120 haschanged. If the frame analysis module 125 determines the BSS profile haschanged based on the change indicator, the STA 120 may determine tofurther process the management frame, similarly as described above. Ifthe frame analysis module 125 determines the BSS profile has not changedbased on the change indicator, the STA 120 may determine to discard orignore the management frame.

In some implementations, the WLAN apparatus 150 may determine whether toinclude a BSS profile of a BSS in a next management frame associatedwith the BSS based on whether the BSS profile has changed compared tothe previous instance of the BSS profile in a previously transmittedmanagement frame. For example, if the BSS profile has changed, the WLANdevice 150 may include the BSS profile in the next management frameassociated with the BSS (even if its prior to the next correspondingmanagement frame of a repeating sequence of management), so that theSTAs of the BSS are quickly notified of the change in the BSS profile.If the BSS profile has not changed, the WLAN device 150 may wait toinclude the BSS profile in the next corresponding management frame ofthe repeating sequence of management frames. In some implementations, ifthe BSS profile has changed, the WLAN device 150 may include the BSSprofile in the next DTIM management frame associated with the BSS. Insome implementations, if the BSS profile has changed, the WLAN device150 may include the BSS profile in the next DTIM management frameassociated with the BSS, even if its prior to the next DTIM managementframe of the corresponding DTIM interval. If the BSS profile has notchanged, the WLAN device 150 may wait to include the BSS profile in thenext DTIM management frame of the corresponding DTIM interval.

In some implementations, a management frame may include an indicator inthe management frame to indicate whether a list of NonTxBSSIDs in thatmanagement frame is a complete list or a partial list of the other BSSs(corresponding to VAPs 152, 153, and 154) hosted by the WLAN apparatus150. In some implementations, the first VAP 151 may transmit a partiallist in a first management frame and another partial list in the nextmanagement frame. Therefore, a series of consecutive management framesmay include portions of the complete list. In some implementations, amanagement frame may include an indicator having a defined value toinform the recipient (STA) whether or not the management frame isadvertising a complete or partial list. For example, in someimplementations, the indicator may be a single bit value to indicatethat the management frame includes either a complete or partial list. Insome implementations, a management frame may indicate a quantity (orcount) of BSSIDs in the Multiple BSSID set. For example, the managementframe may indicate a total quantity of the BSSIDs in the Multiple BSSIDset, including the TxBSSID. In another example, the management frame mayindicate a quantity of the NonTxBSSIDs in the Multiple BSSID set, notincluding the TxBSSID.

The types of management frames, profiles, element, and indicators aremerely examples. In some other implementations, a different managementframe, profiles, elements, and indicators may be used. In someimplementations, the use of the indicators may be specified in astandard specification. For example, some implementations of theindicators may be mandated for IEEE 802.11ax devices.

FIG. 3 depicts example management frames that include a split BSSprofile across Multiple BSSID elements. In some implementations, themanagement frame generation module 172 of the WLAN apparatus 150 maygenerate a management frame 301 having a split BSS profile (which mayalso be referred to as a NonTxBSSID profile) across two or more MultipleBSSID elements of the management frame 301. A split BSS profile may alsobe referred to as a straddled BSS profile. As shown in the examplemanagement frame 301 of FIG. 3, the management frame generation module172 may include a complete BSS profile 321 for the NonTxBSSID associatedwith the VAP 152, and a partial BSS profile 322A (which may also bereferred to as a first portion of the BSS profile 322) for theNonTxBSSID associated with the VAP 153, in a first Multiple BSSIDelement 320A of the management frame 301. The management framegeneration module 172 may also include a partial BSS profile 322B (whichmay also be referred to as a second portion of the BSS profile 322, orthe remaining portion of the BSS profile 322 that was not included inthe first Multiple BSSID element 320A) in a second Multiple BSSIDelement 320B of the management frame 301. The management frame 301 mayalso include a header 310 and additional elements/fields 330. Thus, themanagement frame 301 may include a BSS profile 322 that is split into afirst portion (322A) and a second portion (322B) across the firstMultiple BSSID element 320A and the second Multiple BSSID elements 320B.

When a BSS profile is split or straddled across two or more MultipleBSSID elements, the management frame generation module 172 may add anindicator (such as a fixed element or anchor element) that indicates themanagement frame includes a split BSS profile. An indicator may indicateto a STA that is parsing the split BSS profile in one of the MultipleBSSID elements to continue to parse the next Multiple BSSID element toprocess the remaining portion of the split profile. Without anindication that there is a split or straddled profile, the STA mayignore the next Multiple BSSID element. In some implementations, theindicator may be an existing element in a BSS profile that may identifythe start or end of the BSS profile. For example, a capabilities element(which also may be referred to as a NonTxBSSID Cap element) may indicatethe start of a BSS profile.

In some implementations, as shown in the example management frame 301,the management frame generation module 172 may include a fixed element372 as the last element of a split BSS profile (such as the split BSSprofile 322) to indicate to the STA that is processing the partial BSSprofile 322A in the first Multiple BSSID element 320A to also processthe partial BSS profile 322B in the next Multiple BSSID element (thesecond Multiple BSSID element 320B). When the STA processes the partialBSS profile 322B (that is, the second portion of the split BSS profile322), the STA may determine it has finished processing the split BSSprofile 322 when it processes the fixed element 372, which may bepositioned as the last element of the partial BSS profile 322B. In someimplementations, a new element may be defined in a standardspecification to serve as the fixed element 372 that identifies the end(or last element) of a BSS profile, and also implicitly serves as anindicator when the BSS profile is split or straddled across two or moreMultiple BSSID elements. In some implementations, instead of being thelast element of the split BSS profile 322, the fixed element 372 may bethe first element of the next BSS profile, such as the BSS profile 323,which identifies the start of the next BSS profile (and implicitlyserves as an indicator when the BSS profile is split or straddled acrosstwo or more Multiple BSSID elements). After the STA processes thepartial BSS profile 322B (that is, the second portion of the split BSSprofile 322), the STA may determine it has finished processing the splitBSS profile 322 when it processes the fixed element 372, which may bepositioned as the first element of the BSS profile 323. In someimplementations, the fixed element 372 may be an existing element in aBSS profile that may identify the start the BSS profile. For example,the fixed element 372 may be a capabilities element (which also may bereferred to as a NonTxBSSID Cap element). In some implementations, thefixed element 372 may be a new element that may be defined in a standardspecification to serve as the fixed element 372 that identifies thestart of a BSS profile.

In some implementations, as shown in the example management frame 302,the management frame generation module 172 may include an anchor element382 as the first element of the second Multiple BSSID element when a BSSprofile is a split or straddled BSS profile. Similarly as shown inmanagement frame 301, the BSS profile 322 is split into a partial BSSprofile 322A in the first Multiple BSSID element 320A and a partial BSSprofile 322B in a second Multiple BSSID element 302B. The anchor element382 may be the first element in the partial BSS profile 322B, which alsomay be the first element of the second Multiple BSSID element 320B. Theanchor element 382 may indicate to a STA that completes the processingof the first Multiple BSSID element 320A and begins processing thesecond Multiple BSSID element 320B that the partial BSS profile 322B ispart of the split BSS profile 322. The anchor element 382 may be aMultiple BSSID Index element, or may be a new element that is defined ina standard specification as an anchor between two Multiple BSSIDelements to indicate a BSS profile is split between the two MultipleBSSID elements.

In some implementations, as shown in the example management frame 303,the management frame generation module 172 may include an anchor element392 as the last element of the first Multiple BSSID element 320A, whichmay also be the last element of the partial BSS profile 322A. The anchorelement 392 may indicate to a STA that finishes processing the firstMultiple BSSID element 320A to process the second Multiple BSSID element320B because the BSS profile 322 is split between the two Multiple BSSIDelements. In some implementations, a new element may be defined in astandard specification to serve as the anchor element 392 thatexplicitly indicates when the BSS profile is split or straddled acrosstwo or more Multiple BSSID elements.

FIG. 4 depicts an example split BSS profile that is split across twoMultiple BSSID elements of a management frame 400. The management frame400 may include a split BSS profile for the BSS #1 that includes aSubelement #1 and a Subelement #2.

In some implementations, at least a portion the first Multiple BSSIDelement may include the element ID 402, the length 404, the MaxBSSIDindicator 406, and the NonTxBSSID Profile 408 (which also may bereferred to as BSS Profile 408), and at least a portion the secondMultiple BSSID element may include the element ID 412, the length 414,the MaxBSSID indicator 416, and the NonTxBSSID Profile 418 (which alsomay be referred to as BSS Profile 418). The NonTxBSSID profile 408associated with subelement #1 may include a subelement ID 422, asubelement length 424, and data 426. The data 426 may include element #1and element #2 of the split BSS profile. The NonTxBSSID profile 418associated with subelement #2 may include a subelement ID 432, asubelement length 434, and data 436. The data 436 may include element #3and element #4 of the split BSS profile.

In some implementations, the split BSS profile may be the combination ofthe NonTxBSSID Profile 408 and the NonTxBSSID Profile 418. TheNonTxBSSID Profile 408 may include a first portion of the split BSSprofile having a subelement length 424 (a partial profile length) thatincludes the element #1 and the element #2 of the split BSS profile. TheNonTxBSSID Profile 418 may include a second (or remaining) portion ofthe split BSS profile having a subelement length 434 (a pending orremaining profile length) that includes the element #3 and the element#4 of the split BSS profile.

In one example that does not include split or straddled profiles,assuming the information of four BSS profiles fits in one Multiple BSSIDelement, the unfragmented sequence may be the following:

<Element ID=71>, <LENGTH>, <MaxBSSID Indicator>,

<Optional Subelements:

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=profile length>//NonTxBSSID #1

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element 1,element 2 . . . element n],

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=profile length>NonTxBSSID #2

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element 1,element 2 . . . element m],

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=profile length>NonTxBSSID #3

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element 1,element 2 . . . element k],

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=profile length>NonTxBSSID #4

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element 1,element 2 . . . element p]}>

In one example that includes split or straddled profiles, for examplewhen one of the profiles (such as the third BSS profile associated withNonTxBSSID #3) doesn't fit within one Multiple BSSID element and insteadcarries over to the next Multiple BSSID element of the management frame(such as the split BSS profile of the management frame 400), thefragmented sequence may be the following:

<Element ID=71>, <LENGTH>, <MaxBSSID Indicator>,

<Optional Subelements:

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=profile length>NonTxBSSID #1

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element 1,element 2 . . . element n],

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=profile length>NonTxBSSID #2

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element 1,element 2 . . . element m],

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=partial profilelength>{//NonTxBSSID #3

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element1]}>

<Element ID=71>, <LENGTH>, <MaxBSSID Indicator>,

<Optional Subelements:

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=pending profile length>NonTxBSSID#3 [element 2 . . . element k],

ID=0, LENGTH=length of sub-element <=profile length>{//NonTxBSSID #4

[NonTxBSSID Cap element, SSID, Multiple BSSID-Index element, element 1,element 2 . . . element p]}>

As shown, the first portion of the split BSS profile (which is shown asthe BSS profile of the NonTxBSSID #3) may include one or more elements(such as element 1) and may have a partial profile length, and thesecond portion of the split BSS profile may include the remaining one ormore elements (such as element 2 through element k) and may have apending (or remaining) profile length.

The types of management frames, profiles, elements, and indicators aremerely examples. In some other implementations, a different managementframe, profiles, elements, and indicators may be used. In someimplementations, the use of the elements and indicators may be specifiedin a standard specification. For example, some implementations of theelements and indicators may be mandated for IEEE 802.11ax devices. Insome implementations, some of the elements and indicators may be newdefined elements or indicators. In some implementations, some of theelements or indicators may be repurposed elements or indicators.

FIG. 5 depicts an example flowchart of a wireless node analyzing areceived management frame. The flowchart 500 begins at block 510. Atblock 510, a wireless node may obtain a first management frame from aWLAN apparatus that is operating (or hosting) multiple VAPs respectivelycorresponding to multiple BSSs. The multiple VAPs may include at least afirst VAP for a first BSS and one or more other VAPs for one or moreother BSSs. The first VAP may correspond to a TxBSSID and may advertiseinformation regarding the one or more other VAPs associated with the oneor more other BSSs, which are referred to as NonTxBSSIDs.

At block 520, the wireless node may determine whether the firstmanagement frame includes a BSS profile of a BSS associated with thewireless node based, at least in part, on an arrangement of a pluralityof BSS profiles within one or more management frames transmitted by theWLAN apparatus. The BSS may be one of the multiple BSSs and the BSSprofile may be one of the plurality of BSS profiles. In someimplementations, the arrangement of the plurality of BSS profiles mayinclude one or more of a DTIM interval, a repeating pattern of BSSprofiles included across a repeating sequence of management frames, aMultiple BSSID Index element, among others.

At block 530, the wireless node may determine to further process thefirst management frame based, at least in part, on a determination thatthe first management frame includes the BSS profile of the BSSassociated with the wireless node. In some implementations, in responseto determining that the first management frame includes the BSS profileof the BSS associated with the wireless node, the wireless node maydetermine whether the BSS profile of the BSS has changed compared to aprevious instance of the BSS profile that was included in a previouslyreceived management frame. The wireless node may determine to furtherprocess the first management frame in response to determining the firstmanagement frame includes the BSS profile and determining that the BSSprofile has changed compared to the previous instance of the BSSprofile.

FIG. 6 depicts an example flowchart of a wireless node preparing one ormore management frames for transmission. The flowchart 600 begins atblock 610. At block 610, a wireless node may operate (or host) multipleVAPs associated with corresponding multiple BSSs, the multiple VAPsincluding at least a first VAP for a first BSS and a plurality of otherVAPs for a plurality of other BSSs. The first VAP may correspond to aTxBSSID and may advertise information regarding the one or more otherVAPs associated with the one or more other BSSs, which are referred toas NonTxBSSIDs.

At block 620, the wireless node may determine an arrangement of aplurality of BSS profiles associated with the plurality of other BSSswithin one or more management frames. As described above, thearrangement of the plurality of BSS profiles may include a repeatingpattern of management frame transmissions based on DTIM intervals, arepeating pattern of BSS profiles included across a repeating sequenceof management frames, among others.

At block 630, the wireless node may generate the one or more managementframes for transmission based, at least in part, on the arrangement ofthe plurality of BSS profiles.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an example electronic device forimplementing aspects of this disclosure. In some implementations, theelectronic device 700 may be a WLAN apparatus (such as an AP thatimplements a plurality of VAPs). In some implementations, the electronicdevice 700 may be a client STA. The electronic device 700 can include aprocessor unit 702 (possibly including multiple processors, multiplecores, multiple nodes, or implementing multi-threading, etc.). Theelectronic device 700 also can include a memory unit 706. The memoryunit 706 may be system memory or any one or more of the possiblerealizations of computer-readable media described herein. The electronicdevice 700 also can include a bus 710 (such as PCI, ISA, PCI-Express,HyperTransport®, InfiniBand®, NuBus,® AHB, AXI, etc.), and a networkinterface 704 that can include at least one of a wireless networkinterface (such as a WLAN interface, a Bluetooth® interface, a WiMAX®interface, a ZigBee® interface, a Wireless USB interface, etc.) and awired network interface (such as an Ethernet interface, a powerlinecommunication interface, etc.). In some implementations, the electronicdevice 700 may support multiple network interfaces—each of which isconfigured to couple the electronic device 700 to a differentcommunication network.

When the electronic device 700 is a WLAN apparatus, the electronicdevice 700 may include a Multiple BSS Capability module 170 and amanagement frame generation module 172, similar to those described inFIG. 1. When the electronic device 700 is a client STA, the electronicdevice 700 may include a management frame analysis module 125, similarto the module described in FIG. 1. In some implementations, one or moreof the Multiple BSS Capability module 170, the management framegeneration module 172, and the management frame analysis module 125 canbe distributed within the processor unit 702, the memory unit 706, thebus 710, and the network interfaces 704. In some implementations, one ormore of the Multiple BSS Capability module 170, the management framegeneration module 172, and the management frame analysis module 125 (andoptionally one or more of the processor 702, memory 706, and networkinterfaces 704) may be part of a wireless chipset of the electronicdevice 700. In some implementations, the wireless chipset also may begenerally referred to as a wireless node, a wireless apparatus, or acommunication unit (or module). In some implementations, the electronicdevice 700 also may be generally referred to as a wireless node or awireless apparatus.

The memory unit 706 can include computer instructions executable by theprocessor unit 702 to implement the functionality of the implementationsdescribed in FIGS. 1-6. Any one of these functionalities may bepartially (or entirely) implemented in hardware or on the processor unit702. For example, the functionality may be implemented with anapplication specific integrated circuit, in logic implemented in theprocessor unit 702, in a co-processor on a peripheral device or card, inone or more additional processors or controllers, etc. Further,realizations may include fewer or additional components not illustratedin FIG. 7 (such as video cards, audio cards, additional networkinterfaces, peripheral devices, processors, etc.). The processor unit702, the memory unit 706, and the network interface 704 are coupled tothe bus 710. Although illustrated as being coupled to the bus 710, thememory unit 706 may be coupled to the processor unit 702.

FIGS. 1-7 and the operations described herein are examples meant to aidin understanding example implementations and should not be used to limitthe potential implementations or limit the scope of the claims. Someimplementations may perform additional operations, fewer operations,operations in parallel or in a different order, and some operationsdifferently.

As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of itemsrefers to any combination of those items, including single members. Asan example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c,a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.

The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, circuits andalgorithm processes described in connection with the implementationsdisclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computersoftware, or combinations of both. The interchangeability of hardwareand software has been described generally, in terms of functionality,and illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits and processes described throughout. Whether such functionalityis implemented in hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

The hardware and data processing apparatus used to implement the variousillustrative logics, logical blocks, modules and circuits described inconnection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented orperformed with a general purpose single- or multi-chip processor, adigital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or otherprogrammable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discretehardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform thefunctions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be amicroprocessor, or, any conventional processor, controller,microcontroller, or state machine. A processor also may be implementedas a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP anda microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration. In some implementations, particular processes and methodsmay be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.

In one or more aspects, the functions described may be implemented inhardware, digital electronic circuitry, computer software, firmware,including the structures disclosed in this specification and theirstructural equivalents thereof, or in any combination thereof.Implementations of the subject matter described in this specificationalso can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one ormore modules of computer program instructions, encoded on a computerstorage media for execution by, or to control the operation of, dataprocessing apparatus.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. The processes of a method or algorithmdisclosed herein may be implemented in a processor-executable softwaremodule which may reside on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readablemedia includes both computer storage media and communication mediaincluding any medium that can be enabled to transfer a computer programfrom one place to another. A storage media may be any available mediathat may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to storedesired program code in the form of instructions or data structures andthat may be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection can be properlytermed a computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-Ray™ disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations also can be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may resideas one or any combination or set of codes and instructions on a machinereadable medium and computer-readable medium, which may be incorporatedinto a computer program product.

Various modifications to the implementations described in thisdisclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and thegeneric principles defined herein may be applied to otherimplementations without departing from the spirit or scope of thisdisclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theimplementations shown herein but are to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel featuresdisclosed herein.

Additionally, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate, the terms “upper” and “lower” are sometimes used for ease ofdescribing the figures, and indicate relative positions corresponding tothe orientation of the figure on a properly oriented page and may notreflect the proper orientation of any device as implemented.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the contextof separate implementations also can be implemented in combination in asingle implementation. Conversely, various features that are describedin the context of a single implementation also can be implemented inmultiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination.Moreover, although features may be described as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a sub combination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. Further, the drawings may schematically depict one more exampleprocesses in the form of a flow diagram. However, other operations thatare not depicted can be incorporated in the example processes that areschematically illustrated. For example, one or more additionaloperations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or betweenany of the illustrated operations. In certain circumstances,multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, theseparation of various system components in the implementations describedshould not be understood as requiring such separation in allimplementations, and it should be understood that the described programcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singlesoftware product or packaged into multiple software products.Additionally, other implementations are within the scope of thefollowing claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims canbe performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless node, comprising: an interfaceconfigured to obtain a first management frame from a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) apparatus, the WLAN apparatus operating multiple virtualaccess points (VAPs) respectively corresponding to multiple basicservice sets (BSSs); and a first processor configured to: determinewhether the first management frame includes a BSS profile of a BSSassociated with the wireless node based, at least in part, on anarrangement of a plurality of BSS profiles within one or more managementframes transmitted by the WLAN apparatus, the BSS being one of themultiple BSSs and the BSS profile being one of the plurality of BSSprofiles, and determine whether the BSS profile is split between a firstMultiple BSSID element of the first management frame and a secondMultiple BSSID element of the first management frame in response to adetermination that the first management frame includes the BSS profileof the BSS associated with the wireless node.
 2. The wireless node ofclaim 1, wherein the first processor is further configured to: determineto discard the first management frame without further processing thefirst management frame based, at least in part, on a determination thatthe first management frame does not include the BSS profile of the BSSassociated with the wireless node.
 3. The wireless node of claim 1, inresponse to the determination that the first management frame includesthe BSS profile of the BSS associated with the wireless node, the firstprocessor is further configured to: determine whether the BSS profile ofthe BSS has changed compared to a previous instance of the BSS profilethat was included in a previously received management frame, anddetermine to further process the first management frame in response to adetermination that the BSS profile has changed compared to the previousinstance of the BSS profile.
 4. The wireless node of claim 3, whereinthe first processor is further configured to: determine to discard thefirst management frame without further processing the first managementframe in response to a determination that the BSS profile has notchanged compared to the previous instance of the BSS profile.
 5. Thewireless node of claim 1, wherein the first processor configured todetermine whether the first management frame includes the BSS profile ofthe BSS associated with the wireless node based, at least in part, onthe arrangement of the plurality of BSS profiles within one or moremanagement frames transmitted by the WLAN apparatus further comprisesthe first processor configured to: determine the first management frameincludes the BSS profile of the BSS based, at least in part, on arepeating pattern of the plurality of BSS profiles included across arepeating sequence of management frames transmitted by the WLANapparatus.
 6. The wireless node of claim 1, wherein the first processoris further configured to: monitor management frames transmitted by theWLAN apparatus; determine a repeating pattern of the plurality of BSSprofiles included across a repeating sequence of the management framestransmitted by the WLAN apparatus based on the monitoring of themanagement frames; and determine the first management frame includes theBSS profile of the BSS based, at least in part, on the repeating patternof the plurality of BSS profiles included across the repeating sequenceof the management frames.
 7. The wireless node of claim 1, wherein thefirst processor is further configured to: determine the first managementframe includes the BSS profile of the BSS based, at least in part, on adetermination that the first management frame is a Delivery TrafficIndication Message (DTIM) management frame.
 8. The wireless node ofclaim 1, wherein the first processor is further configured to: determinea DTIM interval associated with the BSS profile of the BSS associatedwith the wireless node; determine a repeating pattern of transmission ofmanagement frames that include the BSS profile of the BSS based, atleast in part, on the DTIM interval; and determine the first managementframe includes the BSS profile of the BSS based, at least in part, on adetermination that the first management frame is one of the managementframes in the repeating pattern of transmission of management framesthat include the BSS profile of the BSS.
 9. The wireless node of claim1, wherein the first processor is further configured to wake up a hostprocessor to further process the first management frame in response tothe determination that the first management frame includes the BSSprofile of the BSS associated with the wireless node.
 10. The wirelessnode of claim 1 wherein the first processor is further configured to:determine the first Multiple BSSID element or the second Multiple BSSIDelement includes an indicator element that indicates the BSS profile issplit between the first Multiple BSSID element and the second MultipleBSSID element.
 11. The wireless node of claim 1, wherein the firstprocessor is further configured to: determine the first management frameincludes at least a subset of the plurality of BSS profiles based, atleast in part, on the arrangement of the plurality of BSS profileswithin one or more management frames transmitted by the WLAN apparatus,the subset of the plurality of BSS profiles including the BSS profile.12. The wireless node of claim 1, in response to the determination thatthe first management frame includes the BSS profile of the BSSassociated with the wireless node, the first processor is furtherconfigured to: identify a first indicator element in a first portion ofthe BSS profile included in a first Multiple BSSID element of the firstmanagement frame, the first indicator element indicating a start of theBSS profile; determine a second portion of the BSS profile included in asecond Multiple BSSID element of the first management frame does notinclude an indicator element; identify a second indicator element in anext BSS profile included in the second Multiple BSSID element, thesecond indicator element indicating a start of the next BSS profile; anddetermine the BSS profile is split between the first Multiple BSSIDelement and the second Multiple BSSID element based, at least in part,on an identification of the first indicator element, an identificationof the second indicator element, and a determination that the secondportion of the BSS profile included in the second Multiple BSSID elementdoes not include an indicator element.
 13. The wireless node of claim 1,further comprising: a receiver configured to receive the firstmanagement frame, wherein the wireless node is configured as a station.14. A wireless node, comprising: a processor configured to: operatemultiple virtual access points (VAPs) associated with correspondingmultiple basis service sets (BSSs), the multiple VAPs including at leasta first VAP for a first BSS and a plurality of other VAPs for aplurality of other BSSs; determine an arrangement of a plurality of BSSprofiles associated with the plurality of other BSSs within one or moremanagement frames including a first management frame; and split a firstBSS profile of the plurality of BSS profiles between a first MultipleBSSID element of the first management frame and a second Multiple BSSIDelement of the first management frame; and generate the one or moremanagement frames including the first management frame; and an interfaceconfigured to output the one or more management frames including thefirst management frame for transmission to one or more wireless localarea network (WLAN) apparatuses associated with the first BSS and atleast one of the plurality of other BSSs.
 15. The wireless node of claim14, wherein the processor configured to determine the arrangement of theplurality of BSS profiles associated with the plurality of other BSSswithin the one or more management frames further comprises the processorconfigured to: determine a repeating pattern of the plurality of BSSprofiles to be included across a repeating sequence of managementframes; and generate the repeating sequence of management frames fortransmission via the interface.
 16. The wireless node of claim 14,wherein the processor configured to determine the arrangement of theplurality of BSS profiles associated with the plurality of other BSSswithin the one or more management frames further comprises the processorconfigured to: determine Delivery Traffic Indication Message (DTIM)intervals associated with the plurality of BSS profiles; and determine arepeating pattern of transmission of management frames based, at leastin part, on the DTIM intervals, wherein each management frame of therepeating pattern of transmission of management frames includes one ormore of the plurality of BSS profiles.
 17. The wireless node of claim14, wherein the processor configured to determine the arrangement of theplurality of BSS profiles associated with the plurality of other BSSswithin the one or more management frames further comprises the processorconfigured to: determine a same DTIM interval for each of the pluralityof BSS profiles; and generate a DTIM management frame for transmissionthat includes the plurality of BSS profiles.
 18. The wireless node ofclaim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to: determinewhether a second BSS profile of the plurality of BSS profiles haschanged compared to a previous instance of the second BSS profile, thesecond BSS profile associated with a second BSS; and determine toinclude the second BSS profile in a next management frame associatedwith the second BSS in response to determining the second BSS profilehas changed.
 19. The wireless node of claim 14, wherein a first portionof the first BSS profile is included in the first Multiple BSSID elementof the first management frame and a second portion of the first BSSprofile is included in the second Multiple BSSID element of the firstmanagement frame.
 20. The wireless node of claim 19, wherein the firstportion of the first BSS profile included in the first Multiple BSSIDelement includes a first indicator element that indicates a start of thefirst BSS profile, the second portion of the first BSS profile includedin the second Multiple BSSID element does not include an indicatorelement, and a second BSS profile included in the second Multiple BSSIDelement includes a second indicator element that indicates a start ofthe second BSS profile.
 21. The wireless node of claim 20, wherein thefirst indicator element is a first capabilities element associated withthe first BSS profile, and the second indicator element is a secondcapabilities element associated with the second BSS profile.
 22. Thewireless node of claim 14, further comprising: a transmitter configuredto transmit the one or more management frames, wherein the wireless nodeis configured as an access point.
 23. A method performed by a wirelessnode, comprising: obtaining a first management frame from a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) apparatus, the WLAN apparatus operatingmultiple virtual access points (VAPs) respectively corresponding tomultiple basic service sets (BSSs); determining whether the firstmanagement frame includes a BSS profile of a BSS associated with thewireless node based, at least in part, on an arrangement of a pluralityof BSS profiles within one or more management frames transmitted by theWLAN apparatus, the BSS being one of the multiple BSSs and the BSSprofile being one of the plurality of BSS profiles; and determiningwhether the BSS profile is split between a first Multiple BSSID elementof the first management frame and a second Multiple BSSID element of thefirst management frame in response to a determination that the firstmanagement frame includes the BSS profile of the BSS associated with thewireless node.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: inresponse to determining that the first management frame includes the BSSprofile of the BSS associated with the wireless node, determiningwhether the BSS profile of the BSS has changed compared to a previousinstance of the BSS profile that was included in a previously receivedmanagement frame, and determining to further process the firstmanagement frame is in response to determining that the BSS profile haschanged compared to the previous instance of the BSS profile.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, wherein determining whether the first managementframe includes the BSS profile of the BSS associated with the wirelessnode based, at least in part, on the arrangement of the plurality of BSSprofiles within one or more management frames transmitted by the WLANapparatus comprises: determining the first management frame includes theBSS profile of the BSS based, at least in part, on a repeating patternof the plurality of BSS profiles included across a repeating sequence ofmanagement frames transmitted by the WLAN apparatus.
 26. A methodperformed by a wireless node, comprising: operating, at the wirelessnode, multiple virtual access points (VAPs) associated withcorresponding multiple basis service sets (BSSs), the multiple VAPsincluding at least a first VAP for a first BSS and a plurality of otherVAPs for a plurality of other BSSs; determining an arrangement of aplurality of BSS profiles associated with the plurality of other BSSswithin one or more management frames including a first management frame;splitting a first BSS profile of the plurality of BSS profiles between afirst Multiple BSSID element of the first management frame and a secondMultiple BSSID element of the first management frame; and generating theone or more management frames including the first management frame fortransmission.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining thearrangement of the plurality of BSS profiles associated with theplurality of other BSSs within the one or more management framescomprises: determining a repeating pattern of the plurality of BSSprofiles to be included across a repeating sequence of managementframes; and generating the repeating sequence of management frames fortransmission.